Bicycle



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

F. B. HUNT.

BICYCLE,

Patented Apr. 21,1891.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. B. HUNT.

(No Model.)

BIGXGLE.

Patented A111221, 1891.

lllllllllll im IlllllllllllIIlI-lllllllll Il-Il n Illllllll UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRANKLIN B. HUNT, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO L. C. ALLEN, OF XVASI'IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

B l C Y C L E SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,938, dated April 21, 1891.

Application filed January 29, 1891. Serial No. 379,512. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.- pedal-shaft is provided at one end with a Be it known that I, FRANKLIN B. HUNT, of wheel I, which communicates motion through Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State a wheel J, mounted in a bearing on the reach, of Indiana, have invented certain Improveto the wheel K, secured to the axle of the 5 ments in Bicycles, of which the following is a driving-wheel B. 5 5

specification. The first part of my invention relates to the My invention has reference to improvepecular construction of the driving-train I, J, ments in the driving-gear of bicycles. and K. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the out- The first improvement, which is applicable side wheels I and K are constructed each with xo to machines of various forms, is intended more a peripheral groove or channel of V form there- 6o particularly for use in what are known as in and with a series of openings or sockets m reardriven Safety bicycles, and I have from the bottom of the groove or channel therefore illustrated the same in this connecthrough the internal surface of the rim. The tion. intermediate wheel J is formed with a series 15 Theimprovementconsistsofdriving-wheels of peripheral teeth j, adapted to .enter the 65 which are provided with co-operating frictionsockets or openings of the other wheels, as surfaces, and also with co-operating teeth, by plainly shown in Fig. 2, so that motion is by which they are adapted to run in a smooth means of the teeth imparted positively from and noiseless manner and to combine the good the wheel I to the Wheel J and from the latzo qualities and advantages of both friction and ter to wheel K. The teeth j may have their 7c. spur gear. active edges of the same form or curvature as In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is those of ordinary spur driving-gear, and the a side elevation of a bicycle having my imwalls of the sockets in which they engage are provements embodied therein. Fig. 2 is alonto be correspondingly shaped, in order to re- 25 gitudinal vertical section through the gearduce the wear between the bearing-surfaces 75 train on the line x of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top as much as possible. plan view of the gear-train. Fig. 4 is a cen- In addition to its driving-teeth, the wheel J tral axial section through the intermediate isprovidedneartheouteredgewithanannular Wheel of the train on the line 5 e of Figs. 2 body j2, of rubber, rawhide, or other suitable 3o and 3. Fig. 5 is a side view of the same wheel material. The opposite faces of this friction- 8o with the frictional surface removed. ring are beveled or chamfered, so that it fits Referring` tothe drawings, A represents a snugly within the grooves of the adjacent frame or reach; B, the rear driving-wheel walls and bears with considerable frictional mounted in the forked end of the reach; C, contact against the converging walls of said 3 5 the front steering-Wheel, and D the steeringgrooves. The frictional contact thus secured 8 5 fork carrying the front wheel and connected between the wheels is suiiicient to alone proto the front of the reach by a substantially pel the machine under ordinary circumvertical axis, so that it may be turned to the stances, and it serves not only to prevent right and left by means of its steering-handle noise and to cause a smooth and easy action 4o d in order to determine the course of the maof the wheels one upon the other, but also to 9o chine. relieve the teeth from a great portion of the The foregoing parts may all be constructed wear which they would otherwise receive. in any ordinary or appropriate manner. The frictional portion of the wheel maybe E represents the horizontal driving-shaft applied thereto in any suitable manner; but 45 mounted in bearings on the reach immedi- I find in practice that it is advisable to em- 9 5 ately in front of the rear wheel and provided ploy vulcanized rubber and to secure the same at its ends with cranks F, carrying pedals G, in place by providing the wheel with perfothrough which the power for propelling the rations n, as shown in Fig. 5, in molding the machine is applied by the foot of the operator rubber in place upon the wheel and through 5o occupying the elevated seat, as usual. The the openings, as plainly shown in Fig. 4. As roo the sockets to receive the teeth j open through to the interior of the Wheels, there is no danger of obstructive matters lodging therein.

The essence of myinvention as regards the driving-gear consists in adapting them to engage both frictionally and positively, and it is to be understood that the details of construction may be modified provided only one Wheel is adapted to engage frictionally Within the groove of another and the two adapted to interlock positively. It Will of course be nnderstood that those portions of the wheels I and K which lie between the receiving-sock- .ets m are in effect teeth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a bicycle, the combination of the driving-Wheel, the peripherallygrooved and mortised wheel attached thereto,the pedal-shaft, the peripherally grooved and mortised wheel attached thereto, and the intermediate Wheel provided with the friction-surfaces and teeth to engage the other wheels, substantially as described.

2. In a drivin g-gear for bicycles and kindred machines, a Wheel having a peripheral groove the transverse perforations, and the elastic frictional material extended through said perforations and exposed in annular lines on opposite sides of the Wheel, in combination with the (3o-operating Wheel having the V-shaped groove to embrace the friction-surfaces and the sockets to receive the teeth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 29th day of January, 1891, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

FRANKLIN B. HUNT.

Witnesses:

W. R. KENNEDY, FABIUS STANLY ELMORE. 

